India's road rage: When cars become weapons
Road disputes are turning violent across India, raising questions about status and impunity behind the wheel for drivers of expensive cars.
A road rage incident in Gurugram, a New Delhi suburb, involved a female biker chased and hit by a car. The driver claimed he lost control and fled, while Shivani Chauhan said she asked for a safe distance. The driver was arrested on attempted murder charges. This case is part of a growing issue of escalating disputes on India's crowded roads.
In Hassan, Karnataka, a driver allegedly rammed a group of men after they complained he was driving too fast, killing one and injuring three. Another incident in Dehradun saw SUVs chase a Toyota Fortuner, leading to gunfire and the death of a retired Army brigadier. Daman's administration imposed a road safety pledge on SUV owners to curb the issue.
India's roads are dangerous, with an average of 485 deaths daily in 2024, and SUVs make up 56% of car sales. Former police officer Yashovardhan Azad attributes aggressive driving to the SUV's size and the driver's desire for dominance. Road safety expert Prince Singhal views SUV drivers' behavior as a mix of practical choice, psychological invincibility, and a sense of entitlement.
Psychiatrist Ravi Prakash notes the psychological effect of personalization, where drivers see ordinary acts as personally directed insults. Sociologist Dipankar Gupta attributes road rage to lax enforcement of traffic rules, with SUV drivers not immune to this phenomenon.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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